For what its worth (ie nothing), here’s my prediction for what happens this morning:
SCOTUS upholds the mandate.
Why do I say that? Because I don’t think Verilli’s performance in oral arguments was as important as people think (or as bad as people think, read the reply briefs where he made his points uninterupted), and that’s whats been driving the conventional wisdom that the mandate is toast. Also, Scalia’s rant on Tuesday. Dude is pissed.
Looking further, any result other than striking down the ACA in its entirety (which won’t happen) will lead to a lot of sound and fury amongst congressional republicans about repeal, but they won’t actually do it because when people realize what’s in the law they mostly like it (other than the mandate). If I’m wrong and the mandate is struck down democrats will similarly engage in sound and fury over moving forward with single payer but they won’t do it because they couldn’t do it last time and they’re in a much worse position now than they were then. Also, they’re spineless.
Anyways, that’s my prediction for this morning and beyond. We’ll know in a few hours.
One final set of predictions:
Regardless of what happens, both sides declare victory, Mark Halperin tells us why everything is bad for Obama, and Mitt Romney lies about it.
Sound about right? I need more coffee.
520 Chestnut 
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